Guilty Mind

by Irene Marcuse

Book Overview

Never suspecting her husband, Benno, of cheating, Manhattan social worker Anita Servi is shocked when the police accuse Benno of murder after the couple's baby-sitter is found stabbed with one of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373264445
• ISBN13: 9780373264445
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Worldwide Library
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Could her husband have killed the sitter?

One Sat. night when Anita and Benno Servi return home, Benno walked their babysitter Ellen, a recent college grad, home. He gets home quite late.On Monday Clea, their 7 year old daughter, shows up at Anita's work -- near her school. Ellen never showed up to pick her up. Anita and Clea go to Ellen's apartment. Anita find Ellen dead in bed with one of the screwdrivers they gave her stuck in her chest.The police believe Benno and Ellen were having an affair. They find his fingerprints on the screwdriver and decide he's guilty of her murder. This shakes Anita's faith in Benno. Anita's estranged mom, Emma, comes to stay with Anita and Clea while Benno's in jail. Anita needs help with Clea with Ellen gone. Anita starts asking around to try to figure out who killed Ellen because the police seem to be set on Benno as the killer. Eventhough Anita is unsure of whether Benno was having an affair with Ellen, she doesn't believe he killed her. In her discussions with other students and faculty, she uncovers many possible suspects and puts herself in danger to try to clear Benno.This is the first book I've read by this author. I enjoyed it. I hope to read more by her. This is definitely a cozy. I like the interaction between Anita and Clea and Anita and Emma. Of course, the interactions between Anita and Benno are strained. I don't like that Benno won't talk to her, but it is believable. Her character development is very strong and they are very likable. This is a white couple with a black child. She also handles this in a very knowledgable way.This book is set in Upper Manhattan and she has a good grasp of the area.I think the plot is well written and I found most of it to be very believable. I kept wanting to read more and more to find out what happened.I highly recommend this book.

Super Sophomore Effort!

Having appeared on the same Bouchercon World Mystery Convention panel as Ms. Marcuse when our debut novels were in initial release, I eagerly awaited her second novel. GUILTY MIND is her second mystery, and I found it an extremely good read. As with her first book, Ms. Marcuse captures the ambiance of the urban lifestyle of New York City. She also continues developing her protagonist, Anita Servi. The plot in this work revolves around the murder of her babysitter, a murder in which Anita's husband Benno becomes a suspect. With questions of Benno's possible infidelity dogging her, Anita, a social worker, investigates the crime and undercovers all sorts of other suspects. GUILTY MIND is a fabulous second novel. Irene Marcuse did not suffer from any sophomore jinx while writing it. I recommend this book highly!

Extremely enjoyaable amateur sleuth mystery

When their baby-sitter Ellen fails to pick up her seven-year-old child Clea, Anita Servi becomes angry and concerned because this is not like her. Anita and Clea go to Ellen's new apartment only to find the recent Barnard graduate dead. Anita dials 911 and her old friend Detective Michael Dougherty heads the investigation.The evidence clearly points towards Anita's husband Benno. He not only escorted her home the night before the murder, but his fingerprints are on the screwdriver that killed Ellen. Anita knows her spouse came home late that night, but accepted his word that they found a throwaway bookcase during the walk, which he fixed, for Ellen to use. Anita makes her own inquiries that lead her to doubts about the faithfulness of Benno and even his innocence.GUILTY MIND is an enjoyable Upper Manhattan mystery that provides readers a taste of the Morningside Heights-Harlem sections of the Big Apple. The story line is fun as amateur sleuth Anita expects to prove the innocence of Benno, but keeps finding evidence of guilt instead. Irene Marcuse's latest Servi novel works because the key cast remains fresh while starring in an entertaining tale.Harriet Klausner